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'Fallout 4' special edition comes with a Pip-Boy for your phone
I don't know about you, but I've wanted a Pip-Boy of my own since I first played Fallout 3. With the Pip-Boy Edition of Fallout 4, I'll finally be able to make that happen with a real-life wrist-bound stat-tracker and menu system. The wearable (I use that term lightly) comes with a companion app that'll be available on Android and iOS, too. The mobile love doesn't stop there either, because tonight Bethesda is releasing Fallout Shelter, an app that lets you design your own shelter in the game, tonight on iOS. Are your bathroom breaks ready?
'Fallout 4' hits PS4, Xbox One and PC on November 10th
Fallout 4 is coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on November 10th. Bethesda revealed Fallout 4 earlier this month with a teaser site and a trailer full of brighter colors and a friendly dog companion. Plus: The robot butler of your dreams. The Fallout team has been working on 4 since the launch of Fallout 3 in 2009, Bethesda announced on-stage today. Fallout 4 includes the series' most in-depth character-customization process and it showcases a dynamic dialogue system that lets you "walk away at any point." Also new in Fallout 4, there's a crafting system. Players can create their own settlements -- build power stations to run turrets and other fancy, electrical fortress elements. In addition, the weapon-modding system is robust, with 50 base weapons and more than 700 modifications, plus a separate UI for the power armor.
'Dishonored 2' doesn't hit this year, but a remake of the first game does
We've barely begun E3 2015 and the award for "worst kept secret of the show" might go to Dishonored 2. Regardless, Bethesda and developer Arkane Studios made it internet official tonight at their media briefing and announced that there are two playable characters (including Corvo from the first game) and a few other bits. A release date wasn't announced, but a fancied-up version of the first Dishonored hits PlayStation 4 and Xbox One this August. You now, so you can get caught up on the story so far. For a peek at Dishonored 2, check out the trailer below.
Next 'Doom' hits Spring 2016 with mod support across all platforms
Prepare to shoot plenty of demons in the face this spring on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One when Doom 4 hits. It's predictably gorgeous and based on the gameplay demo onstage at the historic Dolby Theater, its environments look a bit more open than we've previously seen. Of course there's a massive, powerful shotgun because what would Doom be without shotguns and chainsaws? And plenty of gore and crap-your-pants soundscape for that matter? It wouldn't be Doom.
Watch Bethesda's first-ever E3 conference right here, live
Bethesda is showin' up for E3 in 2015. This is the first time the studio will host its own pre-E3 showcase and it all kicks off at 7PM PT today, June 14th. We're expecting more news about Fallout 4, which is coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC, and some details on the new Doom. We may even get more information about Elder Scrolls Online and a peek at another Dishonored game. There are sure to be plenty of unexpected announcements in every conference this week -- and Bethesda is just the beginning. Watch the live stream below and stay tuned to the Engadget homepage for all of the news as it breaks.
'Super Smash Bros.' gets 'Street Fighter' and 'Fire Emblem' brawlers
The roster for Super Smash Bros. just grew a little larger. Nintendo announced today that Street Fighter icon Ryu and Fire Emblem's Roy are joining the fight on Wii U and 3DS. They're available for $3.99 on either system, or across both for $4.99 each -- Ryu's pack also comes with a Suzaku Castle stage, if you're struggling to decide which to buy first.
'Dota 2 Reborn' will make playing or just watching easier next week
E3 isn't even under way yet, but Valve (which will not be presenting at the event) is starting things early by revealing a new client for its massively popular PC game Dota 2. Dota 2 Reborn is being revealed in three blog updates before it launches in a beta test later next week, but what we can see so far should impress both fans and those still trying to get into these types of games (check out our primer here for a heads up). The dashboard players use to enter games is completely redesigned, with buttons to launch a session from anywhere, and easier ways to join up and play with friends. It's all running on a new engine (not specified, but presumably Source 2), and also adds support for Custom Games, which Valve will talk more about next week.
E3 2015: What to expect from gaming's big show
We meet again, E3. Festivities around the 2015 Electronic Entertainment Expo kick off on Sunday, June 14th, with Bethesda's first-ever E3 press conference at 7PM PT. We're expecting more news about Fallout 4, footage of the new Doom, maybe something about Dishonored and information about Elder Scrolls Online. Then, the real fun begins on Monday with showcases from Microsoft, EA, Ubisoft and Sony. But wait, there's more! E3 itself opens up on Tuesday, June 16th and runs through Thursday, June 18th, and we'll have plenty of interviews, hands-on experiences and breaking news directly from the show floor. Keep track of the week with the full conference schedule below. Welcome to E3 2015:
'Battleborn' seduced me with arcade spirit and role-playing style
Battleborn looked like it would be my kryptonite. When Gearbox Software showed the game to a group of reporters at a pre-E3 event, the roster of 25 characters looked like League of Legends clones, all of them clashing like a teenage anime enthusiast's backup Tumblr. That the studio emphasized a 5-vs.-5 competitive mode, where players would hit and shoot each other in online matches, only further entrenched its cosmetic similarity to that game. What's more, Gearbox promised that playing Battleborn would be all about the "ding" moment, when you level up your character in each match; again just like League of Legends. All those signifiers on top of a name that made it sound like an off-brand He-Man playset, and Battleborn came off like everything I detest about modern gaming. Then I played a co-operative story mission with four other people and never wanted to stop.
Oculus offers $10 million to help indie developers make VR games
Oculus' top brass showed a slew of new VR games at a special event today -- including a closer look at the badass-looking EVE Valkyrie -- but they need more than big-name developers if they want the Rift to be a hit. That's why the company is earmarking $10 million to fund indie game makers who want to build the new big thing in virtual reality content. Coders, you'd better get crackin'.
Oculus Touch gives you natural, hand-based VR control (update)
Oculus might be giving you an Xbox One controller to get your virtual reality experience off the ground, but what if you want more natural control? Don't worry, that's coming soon. Palmer Luckey and crew just took the wraps off of Oculus Touch, a hand controller system that lets you navigate the virutal world in a more natural way. Each grip includes both motion-based input as well as physical controls and haptic feedback -- in some cases, you'll feel what you touch in the VR space. There's no mention of pricing or whether Oculus Touch will be ready for the consumer Rift headset's early 2016 debut, but we're hoping there isn't a protracted wait.
Oculus teams up with Xbox for game streaming, controller
Gamers picking up the first consumer Oculus Rift virtual reality headset will notice a very familiar controller scheme -- the company just announced it will ship with an Xbox One wireless controller and adapter packed in. Although it doesn't support plugging into game consoles directly, Oculus and Microsoft announced that the headset will support the new Xbox-to-Windows game streaming in a VR environment. Unfortunately, that doesn't appear to include plans for full VR games like the PS4 and Project Morpheus, as what we saw during the presentation amounted to a virtual living room setup watching the game on a big screen.
Oculus reveals its consumer Rift VR headset
Three long years after Oculus unveiled its VR headset to the world, it now finally has one ready for consumers. Say hello to the Rift headset that you can actually buy. It features two OLED screens that promises clarity, low-persistence flickering and a wide field of view. It also has a tracking system which CEO Brendan Iribe says has a very low latency movement that the company has refined over the years. They've also integrated a pair of headphones into the headset itself, which Iribe says has that 360-degree spatialized audio that's so integral to a more immersive environment (And yes, you can remove them to add your own headphones). Indeed, the entire headset has been redesigned with comfort in mind. It's lighter, it's covered in fabric for a softer touch and there's also a dial that you can use to adjust the distance between your eyes (also known as the interpupillary distance). And if you wear glasses? No problem, because you can now swap out different faceplates that fits those of us with corrective lenses as well. Interestingly, there's also now an external sensor that you can put on your desk, which replaces the webcam-like sensor from earlier Oculus headsets.
'Ratchet & Clank' for the PS4 looks like more than a remake
When Sony and Insomniac Games teased that there would be a "re-imagining" of Ratchet & Clank for the PlayStation 4, that raised at least a few questions. Would there be a genuinely new story? New mechanics? Or would it be yet another remaster? Apparently, you can rest easy. Insomniac has offered its first look at the action series' reboot, and it's definitely not just a visual upgrade. While it's undoubtedly prettier (see above), you'll also get "modern controls" and a heaping of new content that includes an expanded story, several new planets, refreshed gameplay segments, and a weapon collection that's largely built from scratch. Your muscle memory from the original game isn't going to help here, folks.
'Abzu': a scuba diving game that's part Zen, part 'Journey'
Abzû, the debut game from game development house Giant Squid, may as well have the subtitle Journey 2 or maybe even Flower 3. Studio founder Matt Nava, the former thatgamecompany art director of those aforementioned art house gaming touchstones, is making yet another emotionally bald, deeply pretty game about communing with nature through fluid controls here. In playing Abzû, though, any cynicism born out of its similarity to Nava's past work floats away like so much foam on a wave. This undersea adventure is immediately familiar, clearly of a piece with Journey's nomadic wandering and Flower's breezy environmentalism. Even in just a brief demo session, though, Abzû is equally transcendent. Of all the games from E3 2015 I got to play at early events, Abzû is the one I didn't want to stop playing. Even in a pre-alpha state, Giant Squid's game makes you feel like you're somewhere else.
Leaked image suggests 'Dark Souls 3' is coming in 2016
Dark Souls 3 exists and it's due to launch in early 2016, an official image obtained by IGN suggests. Rumors of a third Dark Souls game have been swirling over the past few days, first (and most credibly) with a report on VG247 that the game would be revealed at E3 next week. Word has it that Dark Souls 3 will launch in early 2016 for PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 -- but it looks like we'll find out for sure during E3, which runs from June 16th - 18th in Los Angeles. We'll of course have all of the news from the show right here, so stay tuned. [Image credit: Dark Souls 2, Bandai Namco]
'Fortnite' would be a fun game, if it weren't so complex
When Fortnite started teaching me how to build a fort, its gentle tutor voice told my pickaxe-wielding warrior to never forget this simple rule: Remember to make a door. When you build forts in Fortnite -- in addition to about a billion other activities -- you want to make durable fortifications protecting a glowing portal from ravenous zombies that want to destroy it. That fort is no good if you can't get out of it or re-enter it to make improvements on the fly. Still, Fortnite creator Epic Games doesn't appear to follow the game's own advice. While a brilliantly simple, edifying puzzle of collaboration and creativity lies within, it's buried beneath myriad layers of confounding busy work and mechanical complexity. Right now, Fortnite doesn't have a door.
YouTube wants to be your one-stop shop for live E3 game videos
If you've ever followed the Electronic Entertainment Expo (aka E3) closely, you know that there are a lot of events taking place in a short space of time: press conferences, live booth presentations and legions of game premieres. How in the world are you supposed to watch it all? We'll be on the ground, of course, but YouTube wants to help as well. It's launching an E3 2015 hub that will stream "all" the big press conferences (such as Microsoft, Sony, EA and Ubisoft), the Nintendo World Championships, loads of booth events and first-time "let's play" sessions. YouTube might not have the same lock on live game steaming that Twitch does, but it could get a lot of your attention when E3 kicks off in mid-June. [Image credit: AP Photo/Jae C. Hong]
'Lego Dimensions' has the toys, but 'Disney Infinity' is a better game
The toys came to life, and it was cool when they did. Almost four years after Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure let kids place action figures on an NFC device to make them playable in a grand adventure game, what seemed like a goofy idea turned out to be a great one. There's something undeniably wonderful about seeing your toy come alive. That idea is also an absolute gold mine. The Skylanders series broke $2 billion in 2014, just weeks after Disney Infinity became its first major competitor. Now Warner Bros. is releasing Lego Dimensions, a massive mash-up of different pop culture icons rendered as little toys to use in one of Traveller's Tales popular Lego game series.
The PS4 will have a 1TB hard drive version very soon
Coming right on time after Microsoft's leak a few hours ago, some pre-E3 Sony news just popped up. An FCC filing reveals two new versions of the PS4 are on the way, and one of them is its first to come stock with a 1TB hard drive inside, twice the size of the current one. PlayStation gamers have already been able to crack the system open and swap in a larger/faster storage unit, but if you'd prefer to skip the hassle the option of having one from the jump will be nice, and current games fill up a 500GB unit all too quickly.
